The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Sipping Super Summer Mocktails Whilst Soaking Up Some Sun.

[Mouseface]

Hello, tis me, Mouse

I'm what some would call a 'controlled' drinker these day, but I wasn't always and I'm not alone on this wonderful bus, Gerald, when I say that.

We have drinkers who drink each day, those who abstain completely and those who are not sure what it is that they actually want just yet....

We won't judge you for drinking, no matter what your reason is, we've all been in your shoes somewhere along the way!! And we have ALL used every excuse under the sun too!

We have some Babes who ride on the Roof-Rack, (clinging on for dear life ) and then we have an expandable Side-Car, which some Babes use, but the bus, well, the bus, our wonderful Gerald, who takes us here and there, to pick up people in need of an unbiased and much needed ear to listen to. :)

There are lots of ears on this bus, and not a single one will turn you away and not listen!

Two things that we do believe here are -

1. • The Vulnerable Need Our Support, Not Our Judgement
2. • Alcohol Fosters Inertia

If you are lurking and reading this thread, there is a reason for it, isn't there?

Stay lurking or come and say hello! We don't always bite.

And for those who'd like a bit of history, HERE'S THE LAST THREAD

And of course, THIS IS WHY WE ARE ALL HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, A VERY AWE INSPIRING READ

See you soon x

Forgot to say Day 11 here .

GO Obrigada 11 days is brilliant. And welcome to 'the quest'!

Hi babes, I've been lurking on your thread for a long time - I think once I even posted, but that was ages ago. I have been trying to cut down on my drinking for ages unsuccessfully. But I started going to AA a couple of weeks ago and I have managed to make it to day 9 with no alcohol! This is huge for me as it's been years (a decade plus) since I've managed to go even 48 hours without drinking. I thought maybe now was a good time to jump on the bus, since I've noticed that there are lots of newbies around, who coincidentally decided to stop drinking within a day or two of the time I did.

I don't know how long I'll keep going to AA, but it has certainly helped me jumpstart things. I also like the 'be easy on yourself' ethos, with slogans like 'Easy does it' and 'Live and let live'. Someone said the other day that the aim is self-acceptance, not self-improvement. I found that really helpful as I tend to be angry and disgusted with myself much of the time.

Anyway, I'm already feeling better psychologically - since not drinking feels like such an achievement - but I'll be honest here, I was hoping I would feel fabulous as soon as I stopped drinking, and I haven't! Instead I've been plagued by headaches and round-the-clock alcohol cravings. But I think all this is starting to ease up a little. Hope so anyway! I'm also binge eating late at night every night so I'm quite tempted to join Sweet on the fitness/slimming thing. Just don't want to try to do too much at the moment when not drinking is already such a mega-effort. Sigh.

I was the sort of alcoholic who drank a bottle or so a day over the course of the whole day - I started in the morning, bought more on the way into work, drank in my office (this is the downside of having a room of one's own, ), drank again after I got home. I drank to fight anxiety as I felt anxious much of the time and felt I couldn't even start work without a glass in my hand. The problem was, the drink also made me so sleepy I couldn't get any research done. I did do a lot of teaching and lecturing and I thought the booze helped 'relax' me for this but I'm sure it didn't. again. I'm an academic with two young, lovely DS and I really want to stop bumbling through life in a kind of hazy stupor.

I also want to thank all of you for this thread as I have been following it for many months now and it has been very inspiring to read about your struggles and your courage. It was amazing when why got her DS back, I had tears in my eyes. You really ARE brave, brave on a daily and hourly basis. I want to join you... Today I will not drink.

Sorry, post of epic length!

Good morning lovely babes! How the devil are you all this fine morning?

I am in the pub. I know, 10.30am and all. I would have joined you in the quest to shift some blubber but I appear to be waiting for a Large Full Scottish and refills of coffee til I get jittery.

I almost took a dander off the bus last night, so tempted to have a wee glass o bubbles. I think it's been so long since I knew what 'me' feels like, I'm unsure of how to be.

baby it's been a wee while since I've ridden too, that was my me time many moons ago, I need to get back to that carefree, supple, rosy cheeked country quine.

I've had a few epiphanies this week. I twigged why I've always overspent on useless things, I twigged that I was kidding myself on how many glasses a week I drink and I twigged that I am always trying to protect other people even if it causes me pain.

Not drinking has given me a clarity, but it's made me disappointed in myself.

I'm sorry, this is a bit mememe but just telling you all is a huge release.

obrigada well done on your 11!

sweet they're soooooo good....mmmmmm...

ma haud gaun quine, haud gaun!

I'm off to work in a minute, long shift today, this has taken me a wee while to type, filling your face while typing slows ye down a shade.

Apologies and bosies to all, on bat phone so can't go back and see how others are til I get home tonight.

Have a lovely day every lovely one of you, catch ye later xx

Hi Marisa, bloody well done on 9 days free from alcohol, and welcome back to the bus.

Coming, well done on resisting the bubblie yesterday and to use one of the quotes from Marisa "go easy on yourself".

My mindfullness book just arrived, cheers Isinde for the recommendation xx

marisa I recognise so much of what you describe, I'm not going to say academia is harder than any other professional line of work (or being a SAHM for that matter), but it does have some very particular, and peculiar pressures; I know, I have ended up a teaching wonk at the expense of my research career. And then there's the expectations, I was once told by a senior colleague who had taken me out to lunch that he "didn't trust an academic who didn't drink" . . .

If you read back to the very early threads in the Brave Babes saga you will see the wise words of MIFLAW, which, to paraphrase, are, deal with what is killing you first (something like that), don't beat yourself up over your weight until you feel more in control of your drinking ~ and 9 days is bloody brilliant.

Keep posting, and keep resisting the Wine Witch, we're here for each other.

Obrigada, jealous now! mine should have arrived yesterday - but my dresses were delivered, and very nice too!

Wry you're wicked!

Evening babes. I'm in bed in my normal sober way, with my book. It's so nice. I'm Day 60 AF today. I still can't quite believe I'm actually doing this. I battled so much to just get through one day (numerous times). It get easier all the time and I am enjoying sobriety more and more. I've been to lots of social functions and though I am tempted by the romantic notion of a glass of wine that is simply not the reality for me.

I'm finding so much pleasure in small things these days. It's so good not to be consumed in that alcoholic mind-frame. If I wasn't drinking, I was certainly thinking about it.

The urges that I have now pass and when I do have them, I know they will pass, so I kind of let it wander around in my squeaky clean newly reformed annoying teetotal brain and then kind of go "fuck off now" and then I get on with life.

Every aspect of my life is better without wine. It's so hard in the first few weeks and I'm not sure it will ever go away entirely, but this is so manageable. You can do it. I do a reality check on myself now and can't believe I was stuck in some weird existence of hiding wine, hiding empty bottles, drinking warm wine, passing out drunk every night and all that endless guilt and self loathing has gone. I'm kind of liking myself again.

It's really worth carrying on. Alcohol is truly a load of shit.

Good night. Have a fabulous Wednesday
Soc xxx

Go Soc, 60 days AF - that is some achievement, huge well done to you

Welcome marfisa well done for joining and for getting to those meetings.It's hard to accept that alcohol affects us,for some bizarre reason we all think that booze and work are a wonderful mix.Well done on the sobriety you have achieved. One of the strangest parts of getting sober is the stage when the 'fog lifts'- it's both great and horrible at the same time. Great because your mind is finally clear and horrible because you begin to understand just how bumbling and hazy life was when you drank.Good luck and keep going.

Just a quick mumble about feelings and the times when sobriety seems like rather a hard job- I went to my awesome meeting recently and it was just what I needed. I left feeling goooooood but on the way home my mind decided that this would be a wonderful time to bring up an unhappy memory from my less than perfect childhood.I sort of understand the mechanism but I wish it hadn't bothered.(fuck off mind) this brought my mood down loads.Getting sober involves getting back in touch with all those feelings I drank on for years,I don't enjoy it but I now know that it will be ok,it doesn't have to be a big disaster. I just have to feel all those feelings and sort out my reactions,and it will be ok.

I'm finding all this much easier this time around partly because I've dealt with some of it already and because I just know that it will pass and hopefully I can finally leave my past where it belongs (bottom of the dump)I agree wholehartedly with the amazing soc alcohol really is shit.

Hi marissa I'm so very pleased you have found the courage to post, we all sat anxiously waiting for a reply after that brave, frightening first one. I too have lived a hazy stupor since the onset of post natal depression 3 years ago, I'm only 3 weeks sober but it's like wakening from a very bad dream. We drink cos we are anxious and afraid and the drink makes us more anxious and afraid. I'm using 300mg daily of vitamin b1 and I'm absolutely certain it's curbed the craving and you will needs lots of sugar for the first wee while as your body will crave that as it's present in every form of booze.

You have made the biggest hugest hardest step by joining us and we exist to support each other through good days and bad so please stay with us. Good luck lovely xx

sober you are doing so wonderfully, your every post fills me with hope for my own success and you beautifully articulate the joys of sobriety.

The wonderful bus and the warmth and compassion you fabulous babes show is a constant source of wonderment and makes me feel so grateful for the day I googled "I drink too much wine" marissa its one day at a time for all of us so just concentrate on today and post as much as you need to.

As always I luffs you all xxx

Wow soc! Blown away by your achievements and positive frame of mind. Congratulations on 60 days sober!!!

I'm a bit grumpy today - housework, money, childcare, family politics, toddler tantrums, postal service (pretty much everything is irritating me).

I'm going to set a timer to do some chores, have a hot bath, watch the football and do some knitting.

Have a good evening everyone xx

Welcome Marisa and bloody well done you.
indie stop sulking and come out and talk to us.

Babes, I was a little bit naughty today. Met rather nice chap for business meeting and wore slightly revealing norkage wear. Twice he tailed off saying " I seem to have lost my train of thought" .

sashays through the bus feeling like a red hot mama

Bath done. Decided to leave the chores til tomorrow. Feeling slightly less stressed and selfish...welcome marisa!

Apologies for my rudeness as I read your post with interest and certainly took lessons away from it already so thank you. Acceptance. Such good advice. 9 days is ace.

ma brilliant! What a confidence boost!

ma love it love it love it, in a world where men have power over women in just about every facet of life? Norks take em down every time..... You sexy thang xxx

Thanks baby. It was a bit naughty but it gave me a real feeling of being in control of the meeting and I did play on it. I didn't check out if there were any developments in the trouserage dept, but he did shift in his seat a few times.

ma was there a pistol in his pocket or was he just pleased to see you (wanders off giggling like a teenager with teenage dd declaring her mother a nutter) xxx

I didn't dare check! Although was tempted to...

Now, ma, don't be going off half cock...

soc that is brilliant, 60 days - well done

ma greetin again

I've got an image of you in my heid, a purple haired Jessica Rabbity hourglass stoater.

ma 1 - 0 man

What a corker!

wry haven't got the hourglass unfortunately. More like a beer glass. But I know how to play to my strengths.

Am away to my bed to fantasise review my business meeting!

Lol ma. I post heart rendering life altering long tedious posts and u post about bloody norks. Perfect! Bring me back to earth with your DD.

It's felling freezing here but H is away so heating is on tropical setting.

Welcome all the new babes. I'd recommend posting here all the time. Just post - it helps. X